Adaptive pneumatic seat and backrest cushions for vehicles and airplanes

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an adaptive seat and backrest cushion, divided into a seat cushion ( 1 ) and a backrest cushion ( 2 ) of essentially the same construction. A number of webs ( 6, 7 ) are introduced between an upper skin ( 4 ) and a lower skin ( 5 ) of an airtight shell ( 3 ) by welding or gluing. The first webs ( 6 ) are of simple construction, the second webs ( 7 ) are of double construction each with a cavity ( 10 ) between the webs ( 7 ). The space within the shell ( 3 ) is filled with compressed air at a pressure p 1 , the cavities ( 10 ) can be pressurised as required with compressed air at a pressure of p 2 , where p 2 &gt;p 1 . The thickness as well as the softness of the seat or backrest cushion ( 1, 2 ) can thus be altered. As a result of the number and arrangement of the doubled webs ( 7 ) and the possible combination thereof in groups the cushions ( 1, 2 ) can be matched to the instantaneous comfort requirements by selective pressurisation with the compressed air p 2  by the seated person.

The present invention relates to an adaptive pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion for vehicles and aeroplanes, according to the precharacterising part of claim 1. Pneumatic seat cushions and backrest cushions are known per se. As a rule they comprise a multitude of air tubes, arranged side by side, which can be aerated and de-aerated by way of a common valve, with the design and construction of such pneumatic seat cushions and backrest cushions being similar to that of known air mattresses. Certain adaptation options consist of having different air pressure settings in individual tubes, as a result of which the shape and softness can be varied to a limited extent. For practical application, such cushions are provided with a textile cover. However, the basic structure of the tubes remains visible and—an essential factor in a cushion—can also be felt.

It is the object of the present invention to create a seat cushion and backrest cushion that is adaptive within a wide range; meets very high requirements in relation to seating comfort; can achieve noticeable weight savings when compared to conventional foam cushions; and during whose manufacture existing seat shell constructions can easily be taken into account.

The object is met by the essential characteristics set out in claim 1, and by further advantageous characteristics set out in the other claims. The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawing.

The following are shown:

FIG. 1 a perspective of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 a longitudinal section of part of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 a, b a detail of FIG. 2 in the non-operative state and in the operative state;

FIG. 4 a, b a variant of FIG. 3 a, b;

FIG. 5 the same detail as in FIG. 3 a, b in a second embodiment;

FIG. 6 a production step relating to the detail shown in FIG. 3 a, b;

FIG. 7 a division of webs, according to the invention;

FIG. 8 a cross section of the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 a perspective of a second embodiment;

FIG. 10 a perspective of a third embodiment; and

FIG. 11 a perspective of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a seat cushion and backrest cushion according to the invention, in this instance of a simple design, for example for a means of mass transportation. The cushion is divided into a seat cushion 1 and a backrest cushion 2. These can be individual units or joined. Any seat cover that may be used has been removed. Also not shown is the actual seat structure because it forms part of the state of the art and does not form part of the subject matter of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a section AA of the seat cushion 1 and diagrammatically shows the interior structure of said seat cushion 1: it comprises a shell 3, structured into an upper skin 4 and a lower skin 5. Two types of webs, namely single webs 6 and double webs 7 extend between the upper skin 4 and the lower skin 5. As the number of double webs 7 increases, so does the degree of adaptability, as will be further explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The webs 6, 7, are connected to the upper skin 4 and lower skin 5 by gluing or welding. Both the shell 3 and the webs 6, 7 are made of a gas-proof material, such as a plastic foil of suitable strength or a plastics-coated fabric. With a view to safety, preferably non-combustible textiles and/or textiles with a flame-retardant finish are used.

In the section according to FIG. 2, seat and backrest cushions 1, 2 are connected by a tape 8, preferably a textile tape 8.

In the context of the invention, the designs shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 apply both to cushion 1 and 2.

As shown, the single webs 6 are connected to the upper skin 4 and lower skin 5 along a strip 9. In the double webs 7 there are two embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4; with the view shown in FIG. 2 corresponding to that of FIG. 3. In this first embodiment, one web 7 is connected to the shell 3 as explained in the description of the single webs 6. The second web 7 is again connected to the first web 7 along two strips 9. A cavity 10 which results from this is sealed-off in an airtight manner from the remaining interior of the seat cushion 1. In the two embodiment variants, the supply of compressed air and de-aeration take place by way of a hose which is arranged in the interior of the seat 1, wherein said hose comprises a branch at each pair or at selected pairs of webs. Of course it is also possible for each cavity 10 to have its own supply of compressed air. A second way of supplying air to the double webs is explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 5 shows a second form of double webs 71. Along two strips 9, the double webs 7 are interconnected once more so that two cavities 10 are formed. Webs 7 comprising three or more cavities also are in accordance with the invention.

In the interior of the cushion 1 the air pressure is p₁. By way of air lines, which will be described in detail below, air is supplied to the spaces between the double webs 7. If their pressure p₂ exceeds p₁, the webs 7 become curved and their shape changes from that shown in FIG. 3 a, FIG. 4 a and FIG. 5 a to that according to FIG. 3 b, FIG. 4 b and FIG. 5 b. In other words, between the webs 7 the cavities 10 are formed whose height decreases as the overpressure Δp=p₂−p₁. In this way, the shape of the seat cushion 1 can be changed. If double webs 7 are arranged above all in the rear part of the seat cushion 1, then its inclination can be varied. Further variation options are explained in the context of the description of FIG. 8.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the different options of connecting the web 7 with the shell 3. In FIG. 3 a web 7 is connected along two strips 9, each with upper and lower skin 4, 5. The second web 7, which is somewhat lower than the first web, is again connected to said first web 7 along two strips 9.

FIG. 4 shows the second variant. In this variant, both webs 7 are each connected to the upper and lower skin in the same way along a strip 9.

From the point of view of manufacture, the first variant according to FIG. 3 is somewhat easier, but the second variant according to FIG. 4 provides more adaptation options.

FIG. 6 shows a step in the production of double webs 7 according to the first variant of FIG. 3. The material for the webs 7 is cut to size, wherein the material for the first web 7 is wider by two strips 9 than the material of the second web 7. Thereafter, two material layers are placed one on top of the other and are welded or glued together along the inner strips 9. Of the larger cutout, on each longitudinal side a strip 9 remains free, which is subsequently glued or welded together with the upper skin 4 and the lower skin 5 respectively.

As shown in FIG. 6, a strip 11 is cut to each web 7. These two strips 11 are also interconnected with each other on the borders, thus forming an air channel 12. A spreader element 13 can be placed in this air channel 12, wherein said spreader element keeps the air channel open even if it is bent.

For the second variant according to FIG. 4, both cutouts for the webs 7 are of identical design, however they are not connected along their longitudinal sides.

If a web which extends crosswise through the entire seat cushion is to made so as to be only partially adaptive, i.e. made with two webs 7, then the procedure shown in FIG. 7 can be applied, in which the cutouts comprise two strips 11 each for the air channels 12, one strip on each side of the cutout. Across the cutouts of the webs 7, for example, two (which is the rule) welded or glued seams 14 are inserted which divide the cutout into three zones: on the outside and adjacent to the air channels 12, i.e. in border regions 15, the webs 7 are adaptive as described so far. Between the welded or glued seams 14, a middle zone 16 is created, in which zone 16 only two webs 6 are arranged side by side. Since no compressed air can get between said two webs 6, this middle zone 16 is not adaptive.

FIG. 8 shows a section BB (according to FIG. 1) of the seat cushion 1 and thus a top view of a double web 7. The webs 6, 7 interconnect the upper skin 4 and the lower skin 5 essentially across the entire width of the seat cushion 1, with the shell 3 being free only in the border regions 17. This is also where pressure compensation within the seat cushion 1 takes place. Preferably the air channels 12 are also arranged in these border regions 17, wherein said air channels 12 exit the seat cushion 1 in the region of its rear end and exit the backrest cushion 2 at its lower region and are then connected to a compressed air control system. The compressed-air inlets for the cushions 1, 2 are also arranged in the above-mentioned regions.

By suitable grouping and combining double webs 7 it is possible according to the invention to make each region of the seat cushion 1 adaptive by using compressed air.

The above description, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7, relating to the seat cushion 1, of course equally applies to the backrest cushion 2. In backrest cushions 2 it is preferably, but not exclusively, the passenger's lumbar region that is of interest concerning adaptivity. It must be borne in mind that, depending on the stature of passengers, the exact position of the lumbar region differs. A pneumatic control system is tasked with combining, grouping and localising double webs 7. The design of such a control system does not fall within the scope of the invention described in this document.

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of seat cushions 1 and backrest cushions 2, wherein the perspective corresponds to that of FIG. 1. The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 has more complex contours when compared to that shown in FIG. 1. These contours can be produced by the way the webs 6, 7 and the shell 3 are cut, without having any influence on the technical contents of the structure shown in FIGS. 2 to 7. Furthermore, the adaptive effect of the double webs 7 can easily be influenced by way of the thickness of the cushions 1, 2 and the design of the double webs 7.

FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment in the shape of a seat cushion 1. In order to further improve the ergonomics, in the region of the buttocks the webs 6, 7 are essentially arranged in the manner of concentric ellipses. In this way, the seat cushion can be designed in the shape of a trough 18. Naturally, ellipse-like air chambers are also created between the ellipse-like webs 6, 7. These air chambers can separately be supplied with compressed air, either individually or in groups, which makes it possible to select the hardness of the cushion 1 in the buttock region. If the webs 6, 7, which are arranged in a concentric ellipse-like manner, are entirely or partly designed as double webs 7, additionally the form of the trough 18 is changeable and adjustable.

FIG. 11 shows a fourth embodiment, also in the shape of a seat cushion 1. In order to obtain an ergonomic shape, several U-shaped webs 6, 7 were integrated in the cushion in the region of the buttocks and the thighs. The U-shape essentially corresponds to the seat-engaging area of a seated person. If the U-shaped webs 6, 7 are designed as double webs 7, with this measure, the seat-engaging area taken up on the seat cushion 1 by a person can in a simple way be designed so as to be adaptive.

Attaching the seat cushion 1 and the backrest cushion 2 in a given seat structure or seat shell preferably takes place by two or more adherence-type closure strips which can be attached to the lower skin 5 and to the seat structure by way of adhesion. Other ways of attaching the cushions 1, 2, such as for example by clamps or buttons, also fall within the scope of this invention. 

1. An adaptive pneumatic seat cushion (1) and backrest cushion (2) for vehicles and aeroplanes, characterised in that it comprises a seat cushion (1) and a backrest cushion (2) which can be connected; both the seat cushion (1) and the backrest cushion (2) comprise the following characteristics: an airtight shell (3) filled with compressed air, which shell (3) is divided into an upper skin (4) and a lower skin (5); there are a number of webs (6, 7) which are arranged between the upper skin (4) and the lower skin (5), thus interconnecting these; of the webs (6, 7) the first ones are single webs (6) and the second ones are double webs (7) so that in each case at least one cavity (10) is formed between each two webs (7) and so that this cavity (10), of which there is at least one, is closed off from its surroundings in an airtight manner, except for an aperture for letting compressed air in or out; the interior of the shell can be filled with compressed air at a pressure p₁; and the cavities (10) can be pressurised with air pressures p₂>p₁.
 2. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to claim 1, characterised in that the double webs (7) are designed in such a way that the first of the webs (7) is connected to the second web (7) along two strips (9), wherein the width of said first web (7) is narrower than that of the second web (7) by an amount which corresponds to the width of said two strips (9); the second web (7) is connected both to the upper skin (4) and to the lower skin (5) along two strips (9); and the narrow sides of two webs (7) each are interconnected along a strip (9) so that the cavity (10) between the webs (7) is closed off by the connections along the strips (9).
 3. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to claim 1, characterised in that the cutouts of a double web (7) are designed so that they are all of the same size; that both directly adjacent to each other along a strip (9) are each connected to the upper skin (4) and the lower skin (5); and that the narrow sides of two webs (7) each are interconnected along a strip (9) so that the cavity (10) between the webs (7) is closed off by the connections along the strips (9).
 4. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the double webs (7) are interconnected at least once more along two strips (9) so that at least two cavities 10 are formed.
 5. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that at least on one end, strips (11) are cut to the cutouts for the double webs (7), which strips (11), interconnected by their borders, form air channels (12) for filling the cavities (10) with compressed air.
 6. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to claim 5, characterised in that spreader elements (13) are inserted into the air channels (12), which spreader elements (13) prevent the air channels from becoming closed off as a result of kinking.
 7. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that in selected pairs of double webs (7) two welding or gluing positions are provided across the longitudinal extension of said double webs (7), which welding or gluing positions extend along the entire height of the webs, thus defining two border regions (15) each and a middle zone (16) of the cavities (10), wherein the border zones (15) can be filled with compressed air, and the middle zone (16) is closed off from any supply of compressed air.
 8. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that all the connections between the webs (6, 7) and the shell (3), the latter being divided into an upper and a lower skin (4, 5), and furthermore of double webs (7) between themselves and the cutouts (11) for the air channels (12) are produced by the application of adhesive.
 9. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that all the connections between the webs (6, 7) and the shell (3), the latter being divided into an upper and a lower skin (4, 5), and furthermore of double webs (7) between themselves and the cutouts (11) for the air channels (12) are produced by way of welding.
 10. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to claim 1, characterised in that each of the cavities (10) between the double webs (7) can individually be supplied with compressed air.
 11. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to claim 1, characterised in that the cavities (10) between the double webs (7) can be selectively grouped together and can thus together be supplied with compressed air.
 12. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the material for the shell (3), the webs (6, 7) and the cutouts (11) for the air channels (12) comprises plastic.
 13. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the material for the shell (3), the webs (6, 7) and the cutouts (11) for the air channels (12) comprises a plastics-coated textile material.
 14. The pneumatic seat cushion and backrest cushion according to claim 1, characterised in that seat cushion (1) and backrest cushion (2) can be attached to the seat structure by way of adherence-type closures which are attached to the seat construction and to the seat cushion and backrest cushion by gluing. 